We now have a new date for the Friends of Lansdowne Legal Challenge. Our application will be heard by the Ontario Superior Court on June 21, 22 and 23, 2011.

The media has been saying that this delay has been a tactic by the Friends of Lansdowne to postpone construction at Lansdowne Park. This is a myth. Here are the facts.

Myth 1: The Friends of Lansdowne are using the legal challenge as a delay tactic and are doing everything they can to postpone the hearing date.

Facts:

1. It is the City off Ottawa and the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group that have delayed the legal challenge by:

• refusing to produce documents requested (documents requested in late December were only provided in March)
• bringing forward motions that necessitated two hearings. In each case, the Master sided with the Friends of Lansdowne so the hearings (and subsequent delays) could have been avoided.

2. Drawn-out litigation increases costs and puts a tremendous strain on a volunteer group like the Friends of Lansdowne. We can't deduct legal fees like the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG) can, or use taxpayers' dollars like the City can. It is not in our interest to delay. We are confident of the merits of our case and so we are anxious for it to be heard.

Myth 2: Construction at Lansdowne would start this spring, were it not for the Friends of Lansdowne Legal Challenge.

Facts:

• The project design is way behind schedule. The Stage 1 site plan has not been accepted by the Design Review Panel nor has the urban plan design been approved. The Stage 2 site plan has not even been produced. Without a final site plan, construction cannot start.
• The City does not have needed approvals from the Ontario Heritage Trust and legally cannot proceed.
• The City does not have needed approvals about the treatment of contaminated soil from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.
• Appeals to the Ontario Municipal Board have not been heard.
• Appeals to the Ontario Conservation Review Board have not been heard.
• The City has not signed the final agreements with OSEG or completed all required studies and plans.

In short, construction at Landsowne has been delayed for reasons that have nothing to do with the Friends of Lansdowne Legal Challenge, and everything to do with problems with the project itself.

Please help us dispel myths about why construction has been postponed.

You may want to read a powerful article by Friends of Lansdowne's Gary Sealey on the truth about Lansdowne delays, another option for renovating the stadium and why it is important to get this right: http://www.letsgetitright.ca/voices/345-lansdowne-just-isnt-ready.

As always, we welcome your donations and support. Go to letsgetiright.ca.